Monoclonal antibodies to human hemoglobin S and cell lines for the production thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies specific to and distinguish between hemoglobin S and hemoglobin A and methods for their production and use. These antibodies are capable of distinguishing between two hemoglobin types which differ from each other by only a single amino acid residue. The antibodies produced according to the present method are useful as immunofluorescent markers to enumerate circulating red blood cells which have the property of altered expression of the hemoglobin gene due to somatic mutation in stem cells. Such a measurement is contemplated as an assay for in vivo cellular somatic mutations in humans. Since the monoclonal antibodies produced in accordance with the instant invention exhibit a high degree of specificity to and greater affinity for hemoglobin S, they are suitable for labeling human red blood cells for flow cytometric detection of hemoglobin genotype.

We claim: 
     
       1. A hybridoma identified as Hu S-1 or HB-8660, which produces monoclonal antibodies which react selectively with human hemoglobin S. 
     
     
       2. A hybridoma identified as Hu S-2 or HB-8661, which produces monoclonal antibodies which react selectively with human hemoglobin S. 
     
     
       3. The antibody produced by the hybridoma of claim 1, which reacts with human hemoglobin S and not with human hemoglobin A. 
     
     
       4. The antibody produced by the hybridoma of claim 2, which reacts with human hemoglobin S and not with human hemoglobin A. 
     
     
       5. A monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma selected from the group consisting of HB 8660 and HB 8661.